A University of Windsor Student has started a petition to lower tuition fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's gaining traction.
Mechanical Engineering student Haroon Ahsan started the petition at the beginning of May and has already gathered close to 2,000 signatures on Change.org.
CLICK HERE to see the petition.
The 23-year-old student from Pakistan says he is paying three times more than a Canadian to attend the university as an international student; that doesn't include room and board.
Ahsan is hoping the university will rethink how much they're charging heading into next semester and possibly give some money back.
"Next semester is completely online and online courses are cost effective, yet they're still charging regular tuition and it seems kind of unfair to me," he says.
Ahsan says all students deserve a break on tuition with lower overhead to run classes, but international students can't simply go home until everything blows over.
"A lot of caretakers have lost their jobs ... and it's becoming an extremely difficult financial burden," says Ahsan.
The federal government announced a $9-billion emergency program that includes a Canada Emergency Student Benefit worth at least $1,250 a month from May to August.
That's only for Canadians, international students are now permitted to work more hours, but Ahsan says that's not going to make life easier.
He's hoping this shows the university there's a gap in the aid package.
"Bring the same level of financial assistance forward for international students at universities that's offered to local students," he added.
More than 80 petitions to reduce tuition fees during the pandemic for Canadian and international students have been posted on Change.org, including one by students at St.Clair College in Windsor.
A petition started by international students at St. Clair College has already gathered 2,500 supporters.
Ahsan says the University of Windsor Students' Alliance has brought his petition to administration and he's waiting for a response from the university.
AM800 News reached out to the University of Windsor, but calls were not returned.